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84 The Hare and Tortoise; a Fable.

Would oft deride the drudging crowd:
For geniuses are ever proud.

He'd boast his flight 't were vain to follow,
For dog and horse he'd beat them hollow ;--
Nay, if he put forth all his strength,
Outstrip his brethren half a length.
A tortoise heard his vain oration,
And vented thus his indignation:
"O puss! it bodes thee dire disgrace
When I defy thee to the race.
Come, 'tis a match: nay, no denial,
I lay my shell upon the trial,"

"Twas 'done' and 'done,' all fair, 'a bet,'
Judges prepar'd, and distance set.

The scampering hare outstripp'd the wind;
The creeping tortoise lagg'd behind,
And scarce had pass'd a single pole
When puss had almost reach'd the goal.
"Friend tortoise," quoth the jeering hare,
"Your burden's more than you can bear ;
To help your speed it were as well
That I should ease you of your shell ·
Jog on a little faster, pr'ythee:

I'll take a nap, and then be with thee."

The Orphan Boy.

The tortoise heard his taunting jeer,
But still resolv'd to persevere;

On to the goal securely crept,

While puss unknowing soundly slept.
The bets were won, the hare awoke,
When thus the victor tortoise spoke:
"Puss, though I own thy quicker parts,
Things are not always done by starts.
You may deride my awkward pace;
But slow and steady wins the race."

85

LLOYD.

THE ORPHAN BOY.

ALAS! I am an orphan boy,

With nought on earth to cheer my heart;
No father's love, no mother's joy,

Nor kin nor kind to take my part.

My lodging is the cold, cold ground; I eat the bread of charity;

And when the kiss of love goes round There is no kiss, alas! for me.

I

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The Orphan Boy.

Yet once I had a father dear, A mother too I wont to prize,

With ready hand to wipe the tear, If chanc'd a transient tear to rise;

But cause of tears was rarely found, For all my heart was youthful glee: And when the kiss of love went round, How sweet a kiss there was for me!

But ah! there came a war, they say. What is a war, I cannot tell :

But drums and fifes did sweetly play, And loudly rang our village bell.

In truth it was a pretty sound

1 thought, nor could I thence foresee

That when the kiss of love went round, There soon should be no kiss for me.

A scarlet coat my father took, And sword as bright, as bright could be; And feathers, that so gaily look,

All in a shining cap had he,

The Orphan Boy.

Then how my little heart did bound! Alas! I thought it fine to see;

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Nor dreamt that when the kiss went round, There soon should be no kiss for me.

At length the bell again did ring; There was a victory, they said;

'Twas what my father said he'd bring; But ah! it brought my father dead.

My mother shriek'd: her heart was woe: She clasp'd me to her trembling knee. O God! that you may never know How wild a kiss she gave to me!

But once again—but once again, These lips a mother's kisses felt.

That once again-that once again,The tale a heart of stone would melt'Twas when, upon her death-bed laid; O God! O God! that sight to see! "My child!-My child!" she feebly said, And gave a parting kiss to me.

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Against Slavery.

So now am I an orphan boy,

With nought below my heart to cheer:
No mother's love, no father's joy,
Nor kin nor kind to wipe the tear.
My lodging is the cold, cold ground;
I eat the bread of charity;

And when the kiss of love goes round,
There is no kiss of love for me!

THELWALL.

AGAINST SLAVERY.

I WOULD not have a slave to till my ground,
To carry me, to fan me while I sleep,

And tremble when I wake, for all the wealth
That sinews bought and sold have ever earn'd.
No: dear as freedom is, and in my heart's
Just estimation prized beyond all price;
I had much rather be myself the slave,
And wear the bonds, than fasten them on him.

COWPER.

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